Steam-supply system for a plurality of engines.



C. B. WESTON.

STEAM SUPPLY SYSTEM FOR A PLURALITY 0F ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED JAN-20.1%?

1,161,4Q9. Patented Nov. 23, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

/27 b /7 I4 4 /o amvevl-foz (Q/Qhtwaomw V I .OLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH C0,, WASHINGTON, 11.:

c. WESTON.

STEAM SUPPLY SYSTEM FOR A PLURALITY 0F ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED IAN-20.1915.

Llfilfigg, Patented Nov. 23, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- 27 l O 7 w Qwivtmaooeo 59,6 M 6 (l-Henna COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH CD.,\VASHINGTON. D. c.

CLARENCE B. WESTON, OF MARION, OHIO, ASSIGNOR T0 BALL. ENGINE COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

STEAM-SUPPLY SYSTEM FOR A PLURALITY OF ENGINES.

Application filed January 20, 1915.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CLARENCE B. WESTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Marion, in the county of Marion and State of Ohio, have invented new and useful Improvements in Steam-Supply Systems for a Plurality of Engines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to steam supply systems for a plurality of engines and consists in certain improvements in the construction thereof as will be hereinafter fully described and pointed-out in the claims.

In some devices, for example, steam shovels, several engines are required to effect the different operations. The different engines ordinarily are controlled by controlling levers within the reach of the operator and are used both simultaneously and independently in the progress of the operation. Ordinarily the different engines are thrown in and out with great frequency. With most of these engines it is necessary to have them capable of reversing the engine and a common method of controlling the direction of movement of the engine is through a controlling valve in which the steam and exhaust pipes leading to and from the engine are reversed. VVherethis is done it is desirable to keep steam on the steam chest in order to maintain the engine valveon its seat. This steam is normally in the steam chest constantly and has been a source of annoyance and difficulty in that the steam chest formed a dead-end with its attendant difficulties, that is to say, the accumulation of condensation. In the present invention this difiiculty is overcome by taking the steam for a second engine from the steam chest of a first engine so that while steam is present in the steam chest of the first engine so as to hold the valve to its seat the frequent passing of the steam through its chest to the second engine prevents the accumulation of condensation in said steam chest.

The invention is illustrated in the accom panying drawings as follows:-

Figure 1 shows a plan view of a steam shovel with several engines thereon. Fig. 2 a section of the controlling valve chest on the line 2-2 in Fig. 3. Fig. 3 a section of the controlling valve chest on the line 33 in Fig. 2. Fig. 4; a plan view of one of the first engine cylinders and its steam chest with Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 23, 1915.

Serial No. 3,361.

the cylinder cover removed. Fig. 5 a sec.- tion on the line 5-5 in Fig. 6. Fig. 6 a central section through a steam cylinder and steam chest as on the line 6-6 in Fig. 1. Fig. 7 an elevation of the steam chest with the cover removed, the steam passage plate being in section on the line of the steam chest cover.

1 marks the shovel truck frame, 2 an axle, 3 the wheels supporting the shovel, 4: the turn table, 5 the boom extending from the turn table, 6 the hoisting engine, 7 the swinging engine, and 8 the crowding engine. The hoisting engine drives the pinion 9. The pinion 9 drives a gear 10. The gear 10 drives the hoisting drum 11. A gear 12 is arranged on the drum shaft and is adapted to be driven thereby and drives a gear 13 on the shaft 14. A gear 15 is fixed on the shaft'l l and this meshes a gear 16 on the shaft 17. The shaft 17 is at the axis of the turn table and the driving mechanism by which the shovel may be driven to move it from place to place is connected With the shaft 17. The hoisting engine, therefore, not only operates the hoisting drum but also the means of locomotion for the shovel. The swinging engine drives the pinion 18 and this meshes a gear 19. The gear 19 is on the shaft 20. The shaft 20 is connected with mechanism for swinging the turn table as the engine 7 is driven. The crowding engine drives the gear 21. The gear 21 drives a gear 22 on the shaft 23. Gears 24% are arranged on the shaft 23 and these operate the dipper stick (not shown). These parts so far as described are of common construction of steam shovels. The boiler 41 is. connected by a steam pipe 25 with a controlling valve chest 26. Steam is delivered to the steam chests of the first engine from the controlling valve chest 26. The pipe 27 having the branches 27 leading to the chests of the two cylinders of the engine 6 leads to the steam chest 28 of the swinging engine 7. A branch 29 leads from the pipe 27 past the joint 30 to the chest 31 on the engine 8.

Steam ports 3232 lead from the cylinder 6 to the steam chest 6 of the first engine. Steam passages 33 and 34: also lead to the steam chest and these passages and ports are controlled by the valve 35, the valve having the valve passages 36 and 37 which are adapted to couple one or the other of trolling valve chest 26.

the ports 32 with one or the other of the passages 33 or 34in the well known manner, the one exhausting as the other takes steam and either passage 33 or 34 in connection with the valve being adapted to operate as the steam or exhaust passage. 'The passages 33 and 3% are connected with the passages 38 and 39 in the passage plate '6. The passages 38 and 39 are connected by means of the ports 40 and 41 with the con- The controlling valve 42 has the valve passage 43 which is adapted to couple either the port 40 or 41 with the exhaust port at, the port 44 be- .ing connected with the exhaust passage t5.

Steam is delivered to the controlling valve chest through the passage 47 which is connected with the pipe 25. It will be observed that as the valve 42 couples the port 41 with the exhaust port 44, the port 40 is opened and the valve chest is taking steam. In this position the firstengine is running in the hoisting direction. The valve may be moved, however, to couple the port 40 with the exhaust passage and under these conditions steam is delivered to the port 41 from the valve chest. In order to hold the valve 35 to its seat, it is desirable to have steam in the steam chest 6 A passage 46 extends from the sides of the controlling Valve chest 26 to the steam chests 6 and these passages while extending from the sides of the valve are always open when steam is in the controlling valve chests so that steam is at all times on the engine valve 35.

In the ordinary operation of the engine, the controlling valve is brought to neutral position so as to shut off the engine but is opened and closed so frequently that it is desirable to keep steam in the steam chests or on the engine valve constantly. The steam chest 6 in ordinary construction, therefore, forms a dead end with its attendant difficulties as hereinbefore described. This ditliculty is aggravated with a vertical engine as there is no chance for leakage from the bottom ofthe steam chest.

In the present invention, the pipes 27*27- lead from the bottom of the steam chests 6*. It will be noted, therefore, that when either the swinging engine or crowding engine is used and this is, of course, in

the ordinary operation of a steam shovel very frequently steam passes through the steam chest 6 thus preventing the accumulation of condensation in the steam chest.

What I claim as new is 1. In a steam supply system for a plurality of engines, the combinationof a first engine having a steam chest; an engine valve in said steam chest held to its seat by the steam pressure in the chest; a second engine; means for supplying steam to the steam chest of the first engine; and a connection leading from the steam chest of the first engine to the second engine for supplying steam from the steam chest of the first engine to the second engine.

2. In a steam supply system for a plurality of engines, the combination of a first engine having a steam chest having steam ports and a steam passage leading therefrom; an engine valve operating on said ports and passage and held to its seat by the steam pressure in the steam chest; a controlling valve chest connected through said steam passage and with the steam chest; a controlling valve in said controlling valve chest controlling the connection leading to the steam passage; a second engine; and a connection between the steam chest and said second engine for supplying steam from the steam chest of the first engine to the second engine.

3. In a steam supply system for a plurality of engines, the combination of a vertical first engine having a steam chest; an engine valve in the steam chest held to its seat by the steam pressure in the chest; a second engine; means for supplying steam to the steam chest of the first engine; and a connection leading from the bottom of the steam chest of the first engine to the second engine for supplying steam from the steam chest of the first engine to said second engine.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CLARENCE B. WESTON.

Witnesses:

B. M. HARTMAN, V. C. Hess.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five eents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0; 

